Bryan Callen Got MeTooed in 2020
Aug. 21, 2020, 9:57 AM PT – After multiple women accused Bryan Callen of sexual misconduct, he was dropped by his talent agents. The 53-year-old comedian had been represented by Creative Artists Agency for comedy and Innovative Artists for acting. Following allegations, both agencies severed ties with him.
It had been three weeks since four women accused Callen of inappropriate behavior, including an allegation of rape in 1999 by Katherine Fiore Tigerman. Callen denied all accusations, stating, “I have never raped, forced myself upon any woman nor offered to trade stage time for sex. EVER.”
At the time, Callen had a Netflix show in development with Chris D’Elia, but D’Elia also faced similar allegations. This led to him becoming an uncomfortable third wheel on Brendan Schaub’s podcast, The Golden Hour.
Joe Rogan Inks Massive Spotify Deal Valued at Over $200M (May 19, 2020)
Rogan’s move to Spotify in 2020 led to the removal of several episodes, including many featuring his real-life friends Eddie Bravo and Bryan Callen. The Joe Rogan Experience debuted on Spotify on September 1, 2020, becoming exclusive later that year.
Rogan also relocated from California to Austin, Texas, following the deal. His shift in location coincided with a notable change in content focus, including less discussion of psychedelics.
In 2022, Rogan Had Schaub on the Show
Brendan Schaub often claims he keeps in touch with Rogan daily, despite never receiving an invitation to move to Austin. One of the biggest blows came during a podcast episode where Rogan asked Schaub where he got the name for his whiskey, Tiger Thicc, completely unaware that it was the name of Schaub’s son.
Another embarrassing moment came when Schaub revealed he got a Texas tattoo, believing he would be invited to join Rogan in Austin. Rogan openly questioned the decision:
Schaub: I have a Texas tattoo, for God’s sake.
Rogan: Why’d you do that?
Schaub: I don’t know, dude.
Katt Williams Throws Joe Rogan Under the Bus (March 2024)
In an interview, Katt Williams accused Rogan of pushing unfunny comedians. “Joe don’t want me on there,” Williams said. “Joe got six comedians that never been funny he wanna push out.”
Rogan later responded on X (formerly Twitter), claiming he loved Katt and would be open to having him on the podcast. However, the exchange fueled speculation about Rogan’s influence in comedy.
2025: Bryan Callen Shoots a Special at the Comedy Mothership, and Rogan Wants Him in Austin
Recent events suggest Rogan is making a strategic move to revive Callen’s comedy career. By encouraging Callen to relocate and supporting his new special at the Comedy Mothership, Rogan appears determined to rehabilitate his friend’s reputation.
The podcast discussion shows Rogan’s enthusiasm for rebuilding Callen’s brand. Meanwhile, Brendan Schaub seems caught in the middle—publicly supportive but potentially sidelined.
The Austin comedy special drew a high-profile lineup, including Theo Von, Mark Normand, Michael Malice, and Lex Fridman. This signals a potential career resurgence for Callen.
The End of The Fighter and The Kid?
Brendan Schaub’s decline has been gradual but deliberate. His failed attempt to surprise Callen at the comedy special, only to opt for a car auction in Florida instead, highlights his dwindling relevance in the scene.
“Just so you know, I was supposed to surprise you on Friday… I bought a ticket on Southwest flying out of B, I was going to surprise [Callen].”
Rogan’s approach to distancing Schaub appears methodical. By excluding him from key events and inner-circle dinners, like one with Eric Weinstein, Rogan has subtly signaled that Schaub is no longer part of his comedy sphere.
On the TFATK podcast, Schaub and Callen addressed the move saying:
TFATK producer: If Brian moves, what happens to the podcast?
Callen: We’ve always figured it out—we’ll figure it out.
Schaub: He has to do what’s best for him, though.
Schaub: What’s best for Brian might be what’s best for Fighter and the Kid.
A former capoeira instructor turned biohacking enthusiast, Gio spent his early years bouncing between São Paulo and Miami before settling in Austin. With a master’s in sports physiology and a penchant for experimenting with traditional Brazilian herbs, he’s become Rude Vulture’s go-to expert on movement optimization and plant-based performance enhancement. When not writing about the intersection of martial arts and ancestral living, he runs an underground fight gym where participants are required to follow strict circadian rhythm protocols.